Playboi Carti

Lore & Background

Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Carter began his musical career under the stage name Sir Cartier in 2011, self-releasing early tracks on SoundCloud. He signed with Awful Records in 2014 and later with ASAP Rocky's AWGE imprint, a joint venture with Interscope Records, in 2016. Carter gained mainstream attention with his eponymous debut mixtape (2017), which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard 200 and produced the singles "Magnolia" and "Wokeuplikethis" (featuring Lil Uzi Vert).

His debut studio album, Die Lit (2018), was met with commercial success, debuting at number three on the Billboard 200. His second album, Whole Lotta Red (2020), became his first number-one album on the Billboard 200 and was later ranked among the greatest hip-hop albums by Rolling Stone. After a series of high-profile collaborations, including Travis Scott's "Fein" (2023), The Weeknd's "Timeless" (2024) and Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign's "Carnival" (2024) — the latter becoming his first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 — Carter released his third album, Music (2025).

The album received generally positive reviews and became his second consecutive number-one on the Billboard 200. It yielded the promotional single, "Evil J0rdan", which debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

Reader's Guide

Carter developed an interest in music at a young age, first participating in choir, which he admitted he initially joined to meet girls but later found creatively inspiring. During his teenage years, he began rapping under the name Sir Cartier and recording songs influenced by Wiz Khalifa, Currensy, and Odd Future, releasing projects and music videos that circulated locally in Atlanta. His earliest videos show him performing in South Atlanta strip malls and parking lots with friends, and he credited his older brother with introducing him to Gucci Mane and other Atlanta rappers who shaped his early style.

Alongside music, Carter developed a strong interest in fashion. He recalled being among the first in his neighborhood to wear skinny jeans and ride a skateboard, drawing inspiration from punk aesthetics he observed at Atlanta's Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark. He frequently shopped at thrift stores, experimenting with clothing that set him apart from peers, sometimes attracting ridicule for his unconventional style. He later said he rarely attended school in his later high school years, focusing instead on recording and attempting to secure a record deal, which prevented him from being recognized in categories such as "best dressed" despite cultivating a reputation for fashion among classmates. At 18, he left Atlanta for New York City, where he lived with family and friends while further pursuing a music career.

Did You Know?

• He signed with Awful Records in 2014 after meeting fellow Atlanta native Ethereal, a producer and member of the underground collective.
• His second album Whole Lotta Red (2020) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 on Christmas Day, after being announced just four days earlier.
• The song 'Carnival' (2024) with Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign became Carter's first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100.